Hello friends,
I’ve just returned to Delaware after the first official week of the 118th Congress. It was eventful to say the least! While I was pleased that we were finally able to get down to the business of governing, I am concerned about the bills that were taken up this week. See below for a recap of the major bills the House acted on.
- Weaken the oversight powers of the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)
- Criminalize health care workers who administer women’s reproductive health care
- Restrict funding to the IRS, delaying services to taxpayers and preventing corporations and the wealthiest individuals from paying their fair share
I voted no on these misguided measures.
As we look toward the 118th Congress, we will continue to focus on Delaware’s priorities – workforce, climate, health, lowering costs for consumers, and supply chains. These are items where we can find consensus with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle so we can do what we were sent here to do: deliver for the American people.
On a lighter note, this week I had the opportunity to do one of my favorite things – share some joyous news with Giada, a high school student who applied for a service academy nomination through my office. The big news – she will be able to fulfill her dream of attending one of our nation’s prestigious service academies. Take a look at her reaction below.
As a reminder, if you have questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to reach out to my office. And if you ever need assistance with federal agencies, my team can help with a wide range of issues including (but not limited to):
- United States Postal Service
- Social Security Administration
- Veterans Affairs benefits and services
- Passport and visa processing
- Citizenship and naturalization
Finally, Monday marks the annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On that day, I encourage you to find a way to honor Dr. King’s life and legacy in a way that is personal and meaningful to you.
Yours in service,
Lisa Blunt Rochester
Member of Congress
Updates & Reminders
Delaware National Guard Deployment
On Friday, I joined the Delaware Army National Guard for the departure ceremony of its 160th Engineer Vertical Construction Company – one of its largest deployments ever. This unit is composed of 150 courageous service members – from carpenters and plumbers to masons and engineers – deploying to Southwest Asia to repair roads and bridges and construct structures for the safety and security of the United States and our allies. I cannot thank them and their families enough for their service and sacrifice. We proudly send them off and wish them a safe return home.
Infrastructure Funding for Delaware
I also joined Senator Tom Carper and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer to highlight a $35 million investment for New Castle County environmental infrastructure projects. My team and I worked very closely with the Senator and his Environment and Public Works Committee to bring these resources home. And I’m proud to say that Kent and Sussex counties will also receive $35 million for environmental infrastructure projects. With these investments, we’ll be able to continue to keep our communities safe, protect our environment, support our economy, and maintain public health.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY! 🚨
This week, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $100 million in environmental justice grant funding – the largest amount ever offered by the EPA! This funding was made possible through the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act that I voted for last year. These grants will advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the country.
I encourage Delaware organizations to learn more about the funding and apply if eligible at epa.gov/ejgrants. The application deadline is April 10th.
This week, I’m highlighting an important figure in our state’s health care sector – President and CEO of Westside Family Healthcare, Lolita Lopez, who recently announced that she will be retiring in July. For more than three decades, Westside Family Healthcare has been under the exquisite leadership, vision, and guidance of Lolita. Her tenure has helped countless families across Delaware access critical health services and resources, especially during the most challenging of times. It has been an honor to call her a friend and partner in our shared goal of making health care more affordable and accessible to Delawareans – work I have no doubt that will be carried on through the incredibly capable and dedicated staff at Westside Family Healthcare. I want to thank Lolita from the bottom of my heart for all she has done, for health care, for our communities, and for our entire state. She has left an indelible impact on our state of neighbors – and I have no doubt her impact will be felt by families across Delaware for decades to come.
